How would he have coached her? "You'd have to break her down and then teach -- what's going on, what's holding you down. She needs a psychologist, that's what it is...In the end, I felt really bad for Kate."

On camera, the 35-year-old mom wiped away tears when hearing her fate on Tuesday. Gosselin said she was "relieved" about the news on Friday's Live with Regis and Kelly; during her five weeks on the show, she consistently nabbed the lowest scores and the harshest critiques from the judges.

Behind the scenes, she was even more distraught. "I know Kate was really upset," former DWTS pro Karina Smirnoff told Us at the Hot Hollywood bash. Smirnoff said, "I know she was very emotional and crying...It's funny, every season we have celebrities that take it personally."

There's one upside, Edyta Sliwinska (partner to the ousted Aiden Turner) told Us at Thursday's fete: "I think she fell in love with dancing. She says she's going to put all her kids in a ballroom class!"